It’s possible that Paul re-used some Ministry material for one of his projects. Al recycled the main “Happy Dust” riff for the live version of “Beers Steers And Queers” in '06 (or whenever that tour was).
Interesting. I’ll have to check that out.
Top tier:
The Land of Rape and Honey
Filth Pig
Psalm 69
Rio Grande Blood
Well Rounded:
The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste
Twitch
With Sympathy
Dark Side of the Spoon
Alright:
Animositisomnia
The Last Sucker
Balls:
Relapse
Houses of the Mole
I just spun Dark Side again (being somewhere between drunk and hungover) and I think it’s best if I send Al a few hundred grams because this album is just too good.
I just spun Dark Side again (being somewhere between drunk and hungover) and I think it’s best if I send Al a few hundred grams because this album is just too good.
It really is and I feel like a total douchebag for even thinking that something that was destroying his life helped him make his best music but it’s true. I don’t want him back on the shit, of course. I just want him to make something honest and interesting again. Something that doesn’t need to be their “fastest heaviest album yet!!!” to have balls and be dark and brutal.
Top tier:
Dark Side of the Spoon
Filth Pig
Twitch
Well Rounded:
With Sympathy
The Land of Rape and Honey
Psalm 69
The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste
Alright:
Animositisomnia
Houses of the Mole
Balls:
Relapse
The Last Sucker
Rio Grande Blood
I supposed I’ll make a list in a similar format as others are.
Top Tier:
• Dark Side of the Spoon
• Filth Pig
• In Case You Didn’t Feel Like Show Up
Well Rounded:
• The Land of Rape and Honey
• Animositisomina
Has Faults:
• Houses of the Mole
• Psalm 69
• The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste
• Twitch
Low Tier:
• Rio Grande Blood
• With Sympathy
Abortions:
• Relapse
• The Last Sucker
The terms are interesting to consider. I see “Top Tier” as really how impactful and emotionally connective they are to the listener . . . hence “Dark Side” getting top shelf. While “Well Rounded” seems to me almost a more objective term referring to quality of production, song-writing, arrangements, etc.
While I can’t stand “With Sympathy”, aside from “Revenge” I would say it’s a well-rounded album of 80’s synthpop faggitry. Not my thing, but it’s good for what it is and is well made.
Even though it’s not my personal favorite, I’d probably have ranked Psalm 69 higher on the “Tier”. It really connected with a LOT of people and turned them into Ministry fans, and it is probably the most “iconic” of Ministry and representative of the band at their peak.
I agree with you on Psalm 69, but I do have some gripes with how popular it became. Since the general public didn’t particularly care for Filth Pig or Dark Side (hence why Warner Bros. decided to drop Ministry) Al has been more concerned with making Psalm 69s 2.0 or “a faster, more intense version of Psalm 69.” Maybe that’s what he wants to do, and that’s fine. As a fan, I would prefer more creativity, the guy is more talented than what half of his discography reflects.
I think all of Al’s attempts to recreate another Psalm 69 has made me dislike it more throughout the years. I’m also really tired of songs like “N.W.O”, “Just One Fix”, and “Jesus Built My Hotrod”.
Honestly, I never really felt it was that strong of an album to begin with. It feels a bit short on ideas and kind of monotonous.
‘psalm69’ is just sort of basically more “mainstreamed” version of ‘mind’.
as for getting tired of songs you mentioned, well, yea
it only adds more annoyance that he keeps re-re-re-mixing them (rantology, then on one or two more compilations afterwards).
the originals are fine… whats the point of 6134th remix of nwo / stigmata / whatever else ‘classic’ song
and that halloween ‘evil’ version he did
it sounds more cheesy than original - only because of stupid LAME drum machine (that he used on TLS and Relapse etc).
just, just ew.
I totally understand everyone’s frustration with Psalm 69 for the stated reasons. It was (in many people’s opinions) what made him a superstar and lose vision as a musical revolutionary. Although I really don’t find any fault with the album in and of itself, it’s that point where you can put your finger on “where it all STARTED to go bad”.
Ironically, he quickly gave a big middle finger to everyone with “Filth Pig” and “Dark Side” following 69.
In addition to kind of wrecking the cute little intimate party for all the underground Ministry cultists (“Waaaahhhh, Ministry’s popular now!!!”) it also kind of floated a big stinky turd in the music scene in general and really spurned the so-called “industrial metal” genre and about 5000 really awful bands trying to surf in the wake.
Bad blood is the only real killer tune on dsots…
Bad blood is the only real killer tune on dsots…
[:/]
they could easily made a psalm69 followup album of course - check out lard’s pure chewing satisfaction (+2 tracks on 70s rock must die) - that’s where alot of psalm69 ‘outtakes’/‘riffs’ ended up, according to some statements from ministry camp.
sure, ok, they really didnt want to repeat psalm 69 again and made filth pig the way it is - not to mention heavy godflesh influence at that time.
however, how was it with dsots? nobody has clear info. most known fact that they had whole bunch of material which had even alot of ambient stuff, but ended up scraping it and starting from scratch. but did they say like ok lets make this a bit fucked up record? or as fucked up as we can? or lets just use whatever we have and somehow stitch it together?
also noteworthy that starting since 94-95 al started slowly disappearing from interviews (until resurgence in 2002) and most of the interviews of fpig and dsots times were given out by barker. hm…
they could easily made a psalm69 followup album of course - check out lard’s pure chewing satisfaction (+2 tracks on 70s rock must die) - that’s where alot of psalm69 ‘outtakes’/‘riffs’ ended up, according to some statements from ministry camp.
sure, ok, they really didnt want to repeat psalm 69 again and made filth pig the way it is - not to mention heavy godflesh influence at that time.
however, how was it with dsots? nobody has clear info. most known fact that they had whole bunch of material which had even alot of ambient stuff, but ended up scraping it and starting from scratch. but did they say like ok lets make this a bit fucked up record? or as fucked up as we can? or lets just use whatever we have and somehow stitch it together?
also noteworthy that starting since 94-95 al started slowly disappearing from interviews (until resurgence in 2002) and most of the interviews of fpig and dsots times were given out by barker. hm…
I would love more info on the making of DSOTS as it’s my favorite album by the band. However, I’m well aware that it’s extremely unlikely any will surface. Al had probably hit bottom and either doesn’t remember shit from the sessions or doesn’t wanna talk about it and/or relive it. Same with others involved, as far as not wanting to go back and talk about the making of it. Or maybe it was boring as fuck and nothing of note happened, they just made music, and called it a day when it was over.
Bad blood is the only real killer tune on dsots…
I would love more info on the making of DSOTS as it’s my favorite album by the band. However, I’m well aware that it’s extremely unlikely any will surface. Al had probably hit bottom and either doesn’t remember shit from the sessions or doesn’t wanna talk about it and/or relive it. Same with others involved, as far as not wanting to go back and talk about the making of it. Or maybe it was boring as fuck and nothing of note happened, they just made music, and called it a day when it was over.
Al has said that he doesn’t remember making the album, and you’re probably right about him not wanting to relive it. Questions about the making of the album are probably more for Paul Barker, or others involved like Louis Svitek, or Rey Washam. Though I’m not totally sure Rey would wanna talk much about Ministry since Al fucked him over.
Grumpy asked Paul about “Dark Side” at the “Fix” premiere and said he thought it was mostly Paul’s work as opposed to Al’s or a collaborative effort and he was mumbling some G-rated babble about it, and I just told him, “Look, Man! Al says he doesn’t remember making it, so you may as well take all the credit for it!”
Grumpy asked Paul about “Dark Side” at the “Fix” premiere and said he thought it was mostly Paul’s work as opposed to Al’s or a collaborative effort and he was mumbling some G-rated babble about it, and I just told him, “Look, Man! Al says he doesn’t remember making it, so you may as well take all the credit for it!”
G-rated babble? Like what?
Wouldn’t surprise me if it was mostly Paul since Al hasn’t made anything even remotely close to as awesome since.